Russell H Gecks
Military
Pilot
96th BG - 337th BS
Shot down 8 April 1944. Crash landed on Dutch coast. Evaded
Object Number - UPL 37946 - 1LT Russell H. Gecks Pilot 96th BG - 337th BS Shot down 8 April 1944. Crash landed on Dutch coast. Evaded
Shot down 8 April 1944 in B-17 #4239856 'Wacky Woody. ' Damaged by flak and crashed Polder, near Ijssel Sea, Holand. Crew landed near Island of Urk. Evaded.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17154817
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator, Radio Operator Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Lane tech of chicago, wacky woody
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 8 April 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Station 138
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Brooklyn, New York | 15 September 1923 | |
| Hempstead, New York | 1 April 1940 | ||
|
Died |
Novato, California | 16 June 1996 | |
|
Other Bailed out/Evaded |
Urk, The Netherlands | 8 April 1944 | Pilot 2Lt. Russell Gecks was underground in Bassenge (Eben-Emael), Roclenge, Slins, Herstal and the city of Liège. From there he was guided south to Fraipont. However, the invasion in Normany had started June 6st. Resistance leader Gaston Matthys of the EVA (Comète) escape line could not get the airmen in his care further down the line to Paris and then Spain. The route was blocked. Helped by Allied secret services, they set up a number of hidden locations in the woods of the Belgian Ardennes west of Bastogne. The operation of setting up the secret camps and getting the evadees into these spots was named 'Operation Marathon'. Lt. Gecks was in camps near Beffe and Porcheresse. Possibly he did not liked it there and moved on south on his own, but he did not get far. He crossed the Belgian-French border at Bagimont and was in Gespunsart, just on the French side. Then he was a bit more south in Renneville and Fraillicourt, heading for the French city of Reims. Just north of Reims, hiding for retreating German troops he encountered the advancing US Army at Auménancourt-le-Petit on 30 August 1944. Flown back in England first week of September. |
Revisions
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3651 / MACR 3651; Snetterton Falcons, pg 130 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
